Chapel Restoration in Mariana Revives Faith and History 11 Years After Environmental Disaster - Folha de S.Paulo

The Chapel of Our Lady of Mercy, in Bento Rodrigues, a district of Mariana, is undergoing restoration 11 years after the collapse of Samarco's Fundão dam in the city in the interior of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. Located on one of the community's highest points, the church was not hit by the approximately 40 million cubic meters of mining waste. It was there that many residents gathered, with no warning sirens or evacuation routes, on November 5, 2015. The disaster killed 19 people.

In April of this year, after construction work was completed, restoration began on the Minas Gerais Rococo elements inside the church. Completion is scheduled for April 2027.

"The complete restoration brings relief and a tremendous boost to the community's self-esteem, so that residents can also rebuild their lives in this new phase," says Father Marcelo Moreira Santiago. Residents continue to visit the site.